Sarah Boone: The Inventor Behind the Modern Ironing Board

Sarah Boone, an African American dressmaker from New Haven, Connecticut, made a groundbreaking contribution to household life when she patented her improvement to the ironing board in 1892. Born in 1832 in New Bern, North Carolina, Boone grew up in slavery but eventually gained her freedom after marrying James Boone, a free African American. Together, they moved to New Haven, where she worked as a dressmaker and became well-known in her community.

Boone’s innovative ironing board design was a direct response to the needs of her profession. At the time, dressmakers struggled to iron tight-fitting clothes, like women’s corsets and sleeves, on traditional flat boards. Boone’s design addressed this by creating a narrower, curved ironing surface that was padded to prevent impressions on delicate fabrics. Additionally, her board was collapsible, making it easy to store—features that were key to making the ironing process more efficient.

In 1891, Sarah Boone applied for a patent for her invention and was awarded U.S. Patent No. 473,653 on April 26, 1892, becoming one of the first African American women to receive a patent. Though there is little evidence she profited from her invention, Boone's ironing board design laid the foundation for modern-day boards, which are still in use today. Boone passed away in 1904, but her legacy endures as a pioneer who combined innovation with practicality, leaving a lasting mark on both the fashion industry and household technology.